But for what we most like to carry for a daytime adventure, it’s not bad. Still, for bringing some cool refreshments and a chilled lunch for a few friends on a longer walking journey, this comfortable backpack cooler is our top choice. Though nothing broke during testing, the hinges and latches are a potential weak point. Though this seems like an unimportant detail, when packed with goodies, it can be a little painful to grasp onto hard plastic. All in all, we were impressed with the RTIC Ultralight, with its lightweight construction, ease of use, and pleasant price. Simply put, coolers are unlike most other categories of outdoor gear that may last for just for a couple seasons before needing to be replaced.
Hard-wearing, chill-keeping, strategically sized ice chests that can hold up to the needs of life on (and by) the water. Wipe interior and exterior surfaces clean before storing and between uses. Tougher stains may be cleaned with diluted solution of baking soda and water.
The Original can do exactly what you need it to do, which is to keep things cold for the day while you focus on the fun at hand. This simple lunch-box-style cooler is insulated with thick closed-cell foam and made from a durable coated nylon. It has taken us a few years to recommend a wheeled cooler simply because none have seemed built to last longer than a season or two—especially in the handle. Once loaded with ice, drinks, and food, a 37-pound cooler can more than double in weight. When someone then tilts the cooler up, all that weight goes into the wheelbase or leans into the handle hinge. The Coleman Xtreme features replaceable hardware, whereas some of the company’s cheaper models don’t.
Of course, the internal dimensions and capacity also make a big difference in what you can bring with you in your icebox and how many extra bags and boxes you’ll need to bring along. And the proportion of these dimensions to one another also makes a big difference. A low and long model is easy to find things in but harder for one person to carry.
Its flexible side handles make carrying a breeze, and we found the exterior organizer pocket to be a nice addition for storing small items like koozies, kitchen utensils, and a bottle opener. Starting at 20 quarts and going all the way up to 140, there’s an ORCA cooler for just about any activity. For a more packable cooler, check out our comparison of the best soft coolers. We’ve also tested the top powered coolers for those who have access to a power source and prefer an iceless approach. Whether you’re planning on a relaxing beach day or a weekend camping trip at your favorite spot, we’ve done the hard work to help you find the best camping gear.
These include things like cup holders, bottle openers, and measurement notches. We also only ranked contenders based on the features they come with and not on all the accessories you could choose to purchase for an additional charge. That said, many manufacturers offer some exceptionally handy add-ons that, should you choose to purchase them, can easily turn a product into your perfect hunting companion, tailgating buddy, or camping friend. Mid-sized models offer a middle ground between the many large options that can often be overkill for a simple picnic or road trip but offer more storage space than the small personal chests. It fits a full 40 quarts of contents and whatever you can cram into the large external storage pocket covering the back of the box.
If you plan on covering any kind of distance from your vehicle—whether it be to your campsite, a spot along the river, or the beach—wheels can make transport a whole lot easier. And no cooler is better equipped for the job than the RovR Products RollR 45. This Boulder-based wheeled-cooler specialist offers its signature RollR in four capacities ranging from 45 to 85 quarts. On all models, you get big and burly wheels that truly work over a variety of terrain, a long pull handle, and you can even attach this cooler to the back of a bike (BikR Kit attachment sold separately for $70). Throw in a premium rotomolded build with excellent ice retention and a variety of fun features like optional cup holders and a side prepping board, and this cooler is as fun and functional as anything on the market.
The Igloo IMX 70qt is similar, with exceptionally flexible, soft, easy-to-use latches, also giving us pause about how well they’ll hold up through years of use and UV exposure. However, this is just speculation and not something we witnessed during our extensive testing. The Igloo igloo cooler with wheels BMX also has T-grip latches with slightly different shapes and thicknesses that both get the job done just fine. From the Igloo IMX cooler to the classic Igloo Playmate cooler, check out the selection of hard-sided and soft-sided Igloo coolers available at Ace Hardware today.
All in all, this big cooler bag is our favorite thanks to excellent insulation and great features like rounded handles and a removable bottle opener. The locking lid ensures that it won’t pop open, keeping your precious cargo secure. The cooler also has a built-in bottle opener so you can quickly open your favorite beer without digging around igloo electric cooler for one. UV inhibitors in the plastic prevent the cooler from getting sun damage so it lasts longer, and the threaded drain plug allows you to hook it up to a hose while draining. Used this cooler on 5 day camping trip, with frequent opening and closing we started with 3 small bags of ice and added 2 small bags of ice over the 5 days.
The RovR’s dry storage goes above and beyond since it has a large dry bin that extends to the bottom of the interior. It also attaches to the side of the interior with a simple hand screw, which means it won’t move during transit like all the other baskets are lgloo Cooler wont to do. The Coleman Xtreme, Cabela Polar Cap, and Pelican coolers have leashes attaching their drain plugs to the body of the chest. Both Pelican models, the Igloo IMX 70qt, the Engel, and the Xspec all have built-in bottle openers hidden in various spots.